Piggy back saddle



Dec. 3, 1963 1'. A. scHlNDLER PIGGY BACK SADDLE:

Filed May 29, 1962 TED .L SCH/NDLEQ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Dec. 3, 1963 T. A. scHlNDLER 3,112,592

PIGGY BACK SADDLE Filed May 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TED A. 5 cum/DLE@ IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent O 3,112,592 PEGGY BACK SAU-BLE Ted A. Schindler, 65N Mount Rainier Drive, Eakersiield, Calif. Filed llt/lay 29, 1962, Ser. No. 193,683 4 Claims. (Ci. 54-44) The invention relates to saddlery with particular eniphasis on the provision of a saddle suitable for children which can be mounted upon and fastened to a conventional saddle used for riding horses.

dthough no particular problem exists in the accommodation of junior riders when small saddles are provided for them to lit ponies and small horses, a different problem exists when provision must be made to accommodate a small rider on a conventional or large-sized horse. if the saddle is small enough so that the rider feels natural and comfortable in the seat, the saddle equipment is quite likely to be of such nature as may he diicult to secure to the horse. On the contrary, if the saddle equipment is made secure before attachment in the customary fashion to the horse, as it should be for safety purposes, diiiiculty arises in providing a seat of the proper shape and size so that the small rider feels normal and comfortable and thereby capable of riding in the proper fashion.

Further still, when a saddle is provided for a child in the growing years, a saddle which is comfortable initially becomes too small as the child grows. Taking into consideration the investment in good saddle equipment, it is not always feasible to reiit a saddle numerous times during the growing years of the child until a normal conventional saddle becomes usable and satisfactory.

It is therefore among the objects of the invention to provide a new and improved childs saddle of such character that it can be attached to a conventional saddle on a horse in such fashion that the childs saddle is comfortable and usable and that it is also secure and safe.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved childs saddle of such construction that it can be easily altered so as to better tit the posture of the child and further altered if need be in order to better accommodate the saddle to a conventional saddle so that the attachment will be snug and secure, the saddle being such that either or both adjustments can be made independently or together.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved childs saddle which for convenience may be termed a piggy back saddle in that it is one capable of being attached to a conventional saddle in such fashion that in addition to being capable of a wide variety of adjustments for size and comfort is also such that in use the horn or pommel of the conventional saddle is usable in normal fashion with the piggy back saddle when it is attached.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accon1- panying drawings.

ln the drawings:

FGURE l is a front perspective view of the saddle.

FIGURE 2 is an exploded front perspective View of the saddle showing the different parts.

FGURE 3 is a side elevational view in the position the saddle would occupy when attached to a conventional saddle.

FlGURE 4 is a crosssectional View taken on the line 4 4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side perspective View of the small saddle securely positioned and fastened to a large saddle.

IGURE 6 is a plan view of the small saddle and large saddle together.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration there is shown a saddle complete in all respects except for the employment of horn or pommel. The saddle consists of a multiple layer seat assembly 1i) having a stirrup strap assembly il on one side and a similar stirrup strap assembly on the other side. A cinch strap i3 extending from opposite sides of the seat assembly is located toward the rear of the seat assembly and fastening straps ld and l5 are located adjacent a front edge i6 of the saddle and adapted to be secured respectively to buckles i7 and l.

More particularly, the seat assembly consists of an upper layer 26 constructed of smooth leather or perhaps an appropriate synthetic plastic material of leather-like consistency. In the embodiment shown, skirts 21 are located at the side in a substantially conventional location. A cantie 22 is provided adjacent the rear edge 23, the cantle being a raised portion formed by Wedges 24 and 25 of either conventional leather material or sponge rubber, of varying widths and thicknesses which pro vides the cantle.

Beneath the layer 2i) is a fastening layer 25 likewise of leather or an appropriate plastic having front and rear edges 27 and 2S respectively substantially coincident with respective front and rear edges of the layer 2). In the chosen embodiment, the straps i4 and 15 are actually sev/ed or riveted to the fastening layer 26 as is also the cinch strap i3. In practice, the wedges 2d and 25 may be sewed or otherwise attached to the fastening layer 25. In the chosen embodiment, a rivet 29 secures the upper layer 2li to the fastening layer 26 at the rear and rivets 3@ provide fastening means between the layers 2i? and 26 at the front.

The stirrup assemblies in this particular embodiment of the invention consist or" a leather loop 3i attached to the fastening layer 26 and which retains a ring 32. The buckle 18 in the case of the stirrup assembly 1l is also secured to the ring 32 by a short length of strap 33. Another strap loop extending through the ring 32 supports a girth or sudadero 35. At the lower end of the sudadero is a loop 36 which has a stirrup 37 attached to it.

A pad layer i0 frequently made of lamb skin with the wool left on or some other appropriate leather with a soft surface has edges `substantially co-extensive with the edges of the fastening :layer v26. Between the fastening layer 2.6 land the pad layer 4@ is a stiiening layer 41, the edges or perimeter of which may be slightly smaller than the edges or perimeters of the layers 26 and 4u so that by providing a line of stitching 4Z the stiffening layer may be bound in position between the layers 26 and 40. More particularly, the stiiening layer consists preferably of some relatively stiff dead metal such for example as soft or semi-soft aluminum which can be bent to a degree and which once bent will hold its newly bent position. Soft or semi-'soft aluminum is suggested partly because it is ya relatively inexpensive and readily available material and `also because it weathers well in the presence of moisture which is quite likely to collect between the layers of the saddle. Aluminum is also a metal which `can be had in varying degrees of softness in one or another of the commercially available lalloys so that a proper alloy can be readily selected in a piece of sheet aluminum 'which can be counted on 'to serve properly `for use in small saddles or on occasions in larger saddles depending upon the degree of stiffness required.

It is appreciated however that other metals may also be suitable inasmuch as some steels, stainless steel, and even sheet brass suitably falloyed and devoid of temper may be used with acceptable success. When the saddle is not -to be altered after being built, the stitening layer may be constructed of hard plastic, sponge rubber, or other appropriate material. When constructed of sponge rubber, the layer 41 will of course serve merely as a filler layer.

It is lfurther found desirable to have the perimeter of the stiifening layer somewhat smaller than the space defined by the stitching '42 so that when the multiple layer seat assembly is bent in one direction or another, there will be room for the stiifening layer to shift and accommodate itself tto space variations which are the result of bending.

As an example of how the multiple layer seat assembly may be bent to assume a different position attention is directed to the dotted line representation 45 of the cantle 22 which has been bent upwardly rather sharply .in a direction such as to provide appreciable support at the rearY of the saddle for a relatively smaller user.

As indicated further in 'FIGURE l by the broken lines t6 and 47, the sides of multiple layer seat assembly may be bent downwardly more sharply on those occasions where the childs saddle needs to be fitted snugly to a conventional saddle narrower than one which the childs saddle would it without bending as indicated. It wil be understood, of course, that the broken lines are suggestive only and that the sides of the saddle yassembly may be bent more or less within virtually yany practical limits which -rnight be needed to accommodate conventional saddles of `almost all varieties of shape and size. Further still, the cantle and portions adjacent the cantle may also be bent more or less Ito provide a shorter, small-er seating sur-face for small chlidren. It is further true that once bent, the saddle will retain its shape and contour because lof the multiple layer construction and the stiff-ness of the stiifening layer but that when some new adjustment becomes advisable, the bending may be reversed to any degree to accommodate a new cond-ition.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the sadle herein shown and described is one which is particularly convenient for use by children of -all sizes and upon virtually all types of mounts, the construction moreover being sufficiently conventional as to be acceptable by persons insisting upon acceptable standards and conventions in riding gear. The childs saddle, moreover, is adapted for attachment -to all types and varieties of conventional saddles but more particularly when used with a saddle frequently identified as a western-type saddle, the horn or ponrmel of the conventional saddle can be made use of as the horn or pommel of the childs saddle as long as the childs saddle is fastened in place upon a conventional saddle of this kind. Further still, the stirrup assemblies of the childs saddle are entirely independent of the conventional saddle and can be adjusted to suit any size -by use of conventional straps and buckles or other means and can be readjusted or replaced by assemblies of desired length lwhen the seat lassembly itself is readjusted to suit a user of different size.

When the small saddle is to be used in connection with `a large saddle such as the western saddle 55 of FlGURES and 6, the small saddle is placed at the low portion of a seat 51 of the large saddle so that even if it were not fastened it would not be apt to slide'to any other position. The cinch strap 13 is .then passed laround the lower portion of a cantle 52 of :the large saddle and the two ends of the cinch strap secured as tightly as required by a buckle 53.

Each one of the fastening straps l14 and 15 are both passed forwardly through the gullet 54 of the large saddle land respectively inwardly of the swell 55 on each side, the straps passing forwardly through a fork 56 of the large saddle and fthen backwardly over the exterior of the swell. The strap y14 is then fastened and adjusted with respect to the buckle 18. Similarly, the strap 115 is fastened and then adjusted by the buckle 17.

By properly securing and adjusting the fastening straps 14- and 15 with respect to the cinch strap 13, the small saddle can be mounted in proper position upon Ithe large saddle so that the stirrups hang comfortably and freely at the sides and with the small saddle in such position that it is accommodate by -a horn 57 thus making use of the horn in the same fashion as would- -be made if the small saddle were not being used. The large saddle, of course, is fastened upon the horse in the conventional way with all of the usual safety and security and accordingly this safety and security is taken advantage of by the smdl saddle.

While the invention has herein been `shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of Ithe invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of lthe claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is:

l. A piggy back saddle for mounting on a conventional saddle having a seat, a gullet, and a cantle at the rear of the seat, said piggy back saddle comprising e. seat assembly having stirrup assemblies attached at the sides, said seat assembly having a forward edge, a pair of fastening straps secured to the last identified seat assembly of the piggy back saddle adjacent the center of the forward edge and a buckle on each side adjacent the points of attachment respectively of the stirrup assemblies, said fastening straps having portions passing forwardly through the gullet of the conventional saddle yand thence outwardly and rearwardly to the buck-les, and a cinch strap o-n the piggy back saddle including a buckle, opposite ends of said cinch strap having attachments to the piggy back saddle at opposite sides respectively and adjacent the rear, said cinch strap having ends on opposite sides of the rear portion thereof and of the cantle and adapted to pass around the rear of the cantle of the conventional saddle whereby to secure the piggy back saddle on the conventional saddle in a properly adjusted position.

2. A double sad-die combination comprising a relatively small piggy `back saddle and a relatively large conventional saddle, said conventional saddle having a seat, a gullet, a swell on each side of .the gullet and a cantle at the rear of the seat, said piggy back saddle comprising a multiple layer seat assembly having stirrup assemblies attached at the sides, said seat assembly having -a forward edge and a canile at `a rearward edge of said seat assembly, a pair of fastening straps secured to the last identi- `lied seat assembly of the piggy back saddle adjacent the center of the forward edge and a buck-le on each side adjacent the points of attachment respectively of the stirnup assemblies, said bfastening straps having fastening portions passing forwardly through the gullet of the conventional saddle and thence outwardly and rearwardly around the swells to the buckles, and a cinch strap on the piggy back saddle including a buckle, opposite ends of said cinch strap having respective attachments to the pigg back saddle at opposite sides respectively forward of the cantle thereof, said cinch strap having a fastened portion passing around the rear of the cantle of the conventional saddle adjacent the base thereof, said piggy back saddle being in releaseably secured adjusted position on the conventional saddle.

3. A piggy back saddle for mounting upon a conventional saddle comprising a multiple layer seat assembly having means for fastening said .seat assembly to said conventional saddle, and having a pair of stirnup strap assemblies at opposite sides, said seat assembly comprising an upper layer forming la seat surface, a fastening layer beneath said upper layer and securing meansforming an attachment between said fastening layer and said upper layer, a stiening layer beneath the fastening layer and a pad layer beneath the stiffening layer substantially coextensive with said fastening layer, said fastening layer and said pad layer having stitching forming an attachment at the perimeters of said last two layers and around the perimeter of said stiifening layer, said attachment comprising an anchor for the stiifening layer between said fastening layer and said pad layer, said stiffening layer comprising a sheet of substantially dead metal of relatively stiif consistency having a relatively bent contour whereby said piggy back saddle comprises a cradle for the rider and a form corresponding to the contour of a selected conventional saddle.

4. A piggy back saddle for mount-ing upon a conventional saddle comprising a multiple ylayer seat assembly having a cinch `strap means and pommel strap means for fastening said seat assembly to said conventional saddle, and having a pair of stirrup strap assemblies at opposite sides each comprising a sudadero intermediate upper and lower ends and a stirrup at each lower end, said seat assembly comprising an upper layer forming a seat surface, a fastening layer beneath and secured to said upper layer and having front and back edges coeX-tensive with front and back edegs of said upper layer, a stilening layer beneath the fastening layer having the perimeter thereof slightly smaller than the perimeter of the fastening layer and a pad layer beneath the stiffening layer substantially coextensive with said fastening layer, said fastening layer and lsaid pad layer being stitched ytogether at the perimeters and around the perimeter of said stiening layer leaving a clearance between the stitching and the penimeter of the stitening layer whereby to anchor lthe stiifening layer between said fastening layer and said pad layer, said stiifening layer comprising a sheet of substantially dead metal of relatively stiff consistency having a rear portion adapted to be bent to a selected contour when subjected to pressure whereby to enable said piggy back saddle to cradle the rider in a fore and aft direction and having side portions thereof bent to a selected contour to enable the piggy back saddle to fit the transverse contour of a selected conventional saddle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 42,015 Nichols Mar. 22, 1864 568,939 Davis Oct. 6, 1896 726,844 Beckerman -May 5, 1903 770,975 Lohr Sept. 27, 1904 1,128,086 Wilson Feb. 9, 19:15

1,214,364 Peterson Jan. 30, 1917 2,248,697 Durham July 8, 1941 2,655,778 Elle Oct. 20, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 625,934 Great Britain `Tuly 6, 1949 

1. A PIGGY BACK SADDLE FOR MOUNTING ON A CONVENTIONAL SADDLE HAVING A SEAT, A GULLET, AND A CANTLE AT THE REAR OF THE SEAT, SAID PIGGY BACK SADDLE COMPRISING A SEAT ASSEMBLY HAVING STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES ATTACHED AT THE SIDES, SAID SEAT ASSEMBLY HAVING A FORWARD EDGE, A PAIR OF FASTENING STRAPS SECURED TO THE LAST IDENTIFIED SEAT ASSEMBLY OF THE PIGGY BACK SADDLE ADJACENT THE CENTER OF THE FORWARD EDGE AND A BUCKLE ON EACH SIDE ADJACENT THE POINTS OF ATTACHMENT RESPECTIVELY OF THE STIRRUP ASSEMBLIES, SAID FASTENING STRAPS HAVING PORTIONS PASSING FORWARDLY THROUGH THE GULLET OF THE CONVENTIONAL SADDLE AND THENCE OUTWARDLY AND REARWARDLY TO THE BUCKLES, AND A CINCH STRAP ON THE PIGGY BACK SADDLE INCLUDING A BUCKLE, OPPOSITE ENDS 